Ballmer Group has announced an expansion of its grantmaking focus to include efforts to address climate change, starting with seven grants totaling $217 million.

The philanthropy co-founded by former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer and his wife, and Connie, traditionally has focused on advancing economic mobility for children and families but is expanding its work, given the implications of climate change for children and families. The Ballmers’ son Sam, whose passion and commitment that has led Ballmer Group to expand into this new area, has joined the organization as its climate lead.

The initial funding includes grants totaling $149 million to four organizations focused on deforestation, including $118 million to the Climate and Land Use Alliance to fund its core work of halting and reversing forest loss, advancing sustainable land use and development, and securing the rights and livelihoods of indigenous and forest communities, as well as regrants to regional partners. Through its partnership with the Audacious Project, Ballmer Group also awarded grants totaling $68 million focused on reducing carbon emissions and other climate areas, including $6 million to the Woodwell Climate Research Center, which will use the funding to measure permafrost at the North and South poles.

“The need to act and the opportunity for philanthropy to play a significant, global role is clear. The science is evident and astounding. We know every tenth of a degree of warming matters to the health of the planet—and that every action that we can take today will make exponentially more positive impact than if we continue to delay action,” said Sam Ballmer. “My family and our philanthropy are committed to act with the urgency and longevity that the global climate crisis requires. To accomplish this, we are working closely with established climate leaders to ensure that our first contributions can have significant impact.”

For a complete list of climate grants, see the Ballmer Group website.

(Photo credit: Getty Images/Ryan McVay)